[Anonymous]

I am beginning to wonder if its really possible to pass this exam while working full time? I spend almost all my free time studying, before work, after work and on weekends (I dont take a lunch break so I cant study during the day). I don’t have a social life anymore. I rarely see my spouse and the only time I take for myself is to workout 3 times a week. Yet I have not passed one exam (I have taken 3). I graduated with a masters in accountancy with almost a 4.0 so I don’t think its an intelligence issue (although I’m beginning to wonder). And I listen to ninja audio daily and I take notes on the lectures.

I am feeling very discouraged after receiving a 74 on BEC today and a 73 on AUD. Can anyone who has passed while working full time at a firm let me know what you did? I take notes and I did over 1000 multiple choice questions for BEC. I just feel like there is so much info that by the time I go thru it all I have forgotten what I learned in the beginning.

[Anonymous]

You can do it.

I've only taken two sections (waiting on AUD results) but it can be done. I am lucky that my company was OK with me taking 2-3 hours a day to study at work during non-busy season. I actually didn't tell them for a few weeks and they said they couldn't tell by the amount of work I was getting done. I spend 2 hours at night and 4-6 hours on the weekend studying. So working full time, a two year old at home, listing weights 7 days a week, 2.5 hours of commuting during the week(55 miles one way), cook all my meals except dinner(wife usually takes care of it). During the week I'm asleep at 10pm and I'm up at 4am. Weekends 11-12 pm up at 6am. My coworkers think I'm crazy. I get a bit of pleasure hearing them complain about their 20 minute commute, waking up at 8am, being single with nothing better to do and still can't find the to study. I think they just aren't motivated.

I will say I am lucky that my wife is very supportive and helpful. She understands the importance. Her family is close by to help watch our son so my wife can work part time and are supportive of my efforts as well.

[Anonymous]

@jlg2010 I took FAR April 1, AUD May 28 and BEC July 10. Now I am studying to retake FAR at the end of AUG. Maybe I just need to slow down a bit…..

With AUD I only got through A1-4, I did'nt even get to peak at the last two chapters because I was out of time. So that fail wasn't heart breaking. But with FAR & BEC I felt like I did everything right, so those fails were more devastating. I have never rewritten my notes because I have not had time. BEC is the first time I covered all the material and had a chance to review it. I just keep running out of time. I am definitely going to begin doing progress tests because I didn't do those for BEC or FAR. Also I may end up rescheduling FAR until Oct. Maybe the review part is what I need to focus on. I am hesitant to do that because I usually feel like I only need another week not a whole month, and I am afraid I will lose momentum by pushing it that far out. I hate these blackout windows! They are so inconvenient.

[Pistachio7785]

When you say you are studying, make sure you are studying(as Mckl says). Its too easy to accumulate hours of “study time” while on facebook etc…be honest with yourself and devote the hours. You can do it with the right devotion and mindset.

[MrsBing]

I think it's very doable. A lot of people here pass working full time w/ kids. I think you need to re-evaluate your study plan. See what others that have passed are doing and adjust as needed. I work full time, study about 3 hours a day Monday through Friday and take the weekends off. The only time I study on the weekends are for my final review. My plan is as follows:

One chapter a week. Lecture, read chapter, read ninja and other notes, do MCQs. In the morning while gettin ready for work I re-listen to certain becker lecture chapters. My final review lasts a month. During the first 2 weeks I spend 2 days on each chapter, re-reading the chapter and re-doing all the MCQs. During the final 2 weeks I re-read my notes, do continuous Wiley MCQs and a few Sims, do progress tests each day and do both the Becker final reviews. The final 2 weeks I do noting but work and study.

You can see that I take awhile to study. I only do one chapter a week because I work full time and want to have somewhat of a social life. But I think the most important is doing a final review. The only other thing I recommend but don't do because I'm lazy is doing progress tests each week to keep earlier chapters fresh.

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, and Ninja 10 Point Combo!

FAR: 89
REG: 87
AUD: 92
BEC: 75
Ethics: 90

Licensed Arizona CPA

[jlg2010]

@cpahopeful ok that looks like a good schedule it appeared you took two in July good luck!

FAR Aug 12 84
Aud Feb 13 99
BEC Apr 13 86
Reg May 13 87 Done!!!

[Author]

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